A childhood marked by numerous visits to doctors’ offices helped Miss University of Southern Mississippi Hannah Roberts develop a passion for two life-changing pursuits – reading and medicine.

Today, the Southern Miss senior from Mount Olive, Miss., is actively engaged in both arenas, having been accepted into the University of Mississippi School of Medicine while continuing to oversee a book donation project that has grown beyond her grandest expectations.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast chapter of the American Advertising Federation of the recently held its annual awards competition, the 2015 ADDYS, and several University of Southern Mississippi students brought home design honors. Hosted at the Imperial Palace in Biloxi, the American Advertising Awards competition recognizes and rewards excellence in advertising.

Dr. Lissa Stapleton, assistant professor in the Higher Education Student Affairs program at The University of Southern Mississippi, has been selected as the winner of the 2015 Melvene D. Hardee Dissertation of the Year Award presented by NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.

The College of Arts and Letters at The University of Southern Mississippi celebrates Black History not just in February, but also throughout the year in its faculty research, courses and internships, sponsored readings and performances and exhibits.

Ellen Ruffin serves as an associate professor and curator for University Libraries at the University of Southern Mississippi, and is passionate about the unique items that can be found in its renowned de Grummond Children's Literature Collection.